Courtesy photo Mid Peninsula’s Mike Englund rushes against Brimley Friday at Mid Peninsula.

ST. NICHOLAS — It was a homecoming of sorts for the Mid Peninsula Wolverines here Friday night as they played their first home football game in a decade.

The Brimley Bays spoiled the festivities, however, handing the Wolverines a 66-18 loss.

Mid Pen was within 18-12 early in the second quarter after senior Tristin Syers scampered around left end for an 11-yard touchdown, set up on a 51-yard dash by junior quarterback Brad VaDamme on the previous play.

Brimley extended its cushion to 26-12 with eight minutes, 41 seconds left in the second stanza on sophomore Trey Lynn’s eight-yard TD pass to sophomore Jay Tadgerson in the right corner of the end zone.

Johnson added another score on a five-yard keeper around right end, giving the Bays a 32-12 cushion 2 1/2 minutes before halftime.

A pass by junior QB Brad VanDamme hit senior wide receiver Michael Englund in stride for a 79-yard score, bringing the Wolverines within 32-18 with 2:05 remaining in the second frame.

The Bays (1-1) responded on their next possession, extending their lead to 38-18 on Lynn’s 48-yard aerial to junior Perry Leblanc 54.7 seconds before the intermission on this mild evening.

Johnson grabbed the second-half kickoff and raced 70 yards for a 44-18 advantage.

“That’s a dagger sometimes,” said Mid Pen coach Sam Eggleston. “It felt like it was a backbreaker. Our defense was on the field a ton. We’re basically starting from zero. We’re taking zero years of experience and playing against guys with four years of experience. There’s definitely some talent on their team. Their quarterback moves well and makes good decisions.”

Brimley then scored its remaining three TDs in the third quarter.

“We noticed the right side of their line was getting a little tired,” said Brimley coach Bob Cameron. “At halftime, we told our kids one play could get them right back in it. We had to step up the intensity and keep going. I think they (Mid Pen) will be fine. They’ll come around.”

Mid Pen scored its first TD in a decade on VanDamme’s 64-yard bomb to Englund, trimming its deficit to 12-6 with 3:22 left in the opening frame, much to the delight of many among the large crowd.

Brimley made it 18-6 on Lynn’s 36-yard pass through the middle to Leblanc with 31 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Wolverines lost a fumble on their 21-yard line on the game’s first play.

Leblanc gave the Bays a 6-0 lead on a six-yard run up the middle six plays later, then caught a 33-yard aerial from Lynn for a 12-point cushion midway through the first.

Brimley rushed for 278 of its 422yards. Johnson led the way with 105 on 11 carries, and Leblanc added 97 in 14 attempts. Lynn was 8-of-12 passing for 144 yards. Leblanc caught three passes for 83, and Johnson snagged two for 44.

VanDamme hit 5-of-12 passes for 177 yards and two TDs. Englund caught three of those for 168 prior to being forced out of the contest with an injury.

“They’re a dangerous combination,” said Eggleston. “People will try to shut them down as much as possible. We’re seeing positive growth. This is a different team than we had last week (in a 90-0 loss at Wild Rose, Wis.).”

The Wolverines scrimmage Carney-Nadeau at North Central Saturday. Their next contest takes place Sept. 17 at Bessemer where they’ll face Port Wing, Wis. South Shore. Brimley hosts Pickford Friday.